Extension table



8 23, J CQOPER EXTENSION TABLE .2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1935 INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. COOPER v EXTENSION TABLE Emma 23,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1935 ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES Ars'r OFFICE 1 4 Claims.

The object of the present invention is to provide an extension table comprising two leaves normal- 1y superposed and provided with means whereby the leaves may be moved to extended position in edge to edge abutment and in the same plane, the

principal object of the invention being to provide a construction adapted for leaves each comprising a rectangular frame of woodor the like covered withmetal, as, for example, porcelain-coated metal. The table is of the general type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,010,221 of August 6, 1935.

One of the primary features of the invention relates to the means by which the leaves are supported for their relative movement into extended position and back into superposed position in order that a strong and rigid construction may be provided with the utmost simplicity and low cost. These objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth in detail.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:---

Fig. 1 is a plan View partly broken away on the line II, Fig; 4, of an embodiment of'the invention. r Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation, the table being broken away on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 33, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line i -4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing in dotted lines the underleaf fully extended preparatory to bringing the leaves in edge abutment, and showing in dotted lines the normally underleaf in position preliminary to retraction.

Fig. 6 shows the table in extended position ready for use, the view being similar to Fig. 4.

Fig; 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cam bar and latching elements of the normally underlying leaf.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the latching elements.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation on the line 9-9, Fig. 1, with the leaves in closed position.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing the upper leaf in extended position.

The table'cons'ists of a usual type of rectangular frame comprising longitudinal bars I and end transverse bars 2, the frame being supported upon legs 3 in the usual manner. From this point, however, the frame is unique in construction.

Mounted upon longitudinal frame members I and extending transversely of the table are two fixed supporting bars 4, and near the longitudinal center of the frame the latter have preferably secured thereto a longitudinally extending bar 5. The latter bar is not essential but serves a useful purpose as will hereinafter be explained.

Projecting upwardly from transverse bars 4 toward each end of the latter is a guide block 6, extending transversely of the frame. These guide blocks afford guiding and retaining means for the primary and normally uppermost leaf, and may serve as stop members for the normally underlying leaf, particularly if longitudinal frame bar 5 is eliminated.

The normally uppermost leaf comprises a rectangular frame composed of the longitudinal bars I andthe end bars 8, and preferably an intermediate transverse bar 9, this frame. being covered with a metal sheet It, the margins of the sheet being bent down over the outer edges of the wooden frame as indicated in the drawings.

The uppermost leaf rests upon a cowling I I carried both longitudinally and laterally of the table at one side thereof and secured to longitudinal and transverse frame members I and 2. The transverse members 8 of the upper leaf directly abut at their inner edges guide blocks 6, and, if desired, frame members 8 and the guide block 6 may be connected by tongue and groove construction as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3this, however, not being essential. To further support the upper leaf and aid in the guiding movement in co-action with guiding block 6, the uppermost leaf frame may carry transverse supplemental frame members I2 in edge abutment with guide blocks 6.

The normally underlying leaf is constructed in a manner similar to the top or overlying leaf, being composed of longitudinally extending frame members I3 connected by end frame members I4, the frame members being generally of wood. Mounted upon frame members I3 and I4 is a metallic covering I5, the margins of the latter being bent downward to cover the edges of the frame members as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

The normally underlying leaf has secured thereto two spaced depending cam bars I6, each bar having a rearwardly extending portion projecting a substantial distance beyond the longitudinal frame member I3 to which the bar is attached. When the normally underlying leaf is in retracted position, said projected ends of the bar It lie below longitudinal frame member '5 and adjacent transverse frame members 4. Transverse frame members 4 thus serve as guiding means for the underlying leaf through the intermediary of the bars and as direct supporting means of the leaf through the intermediary of longitudinal leaf frame members l3.

Transverse frame member 9 of the normally overlying leaf may carry a metal catch member 23 having a depending extension 23x which in the movement of the leaf to closed position will engage a pivoted cam latch 24, pivoted to longitudinal frame member 5, moving the same slightly against the tension of a spring (not shown) and enabling the spring to snap the latch back to hold the catch in a recess of the latch. Any suitable construction for this purpose may be employed and inasmuch as it forms no part of the present invention, the device is shown diagrammatically rather than in detail. A rod 58 leading to one of the frame members I and having a handle l9 exterior of said member may serve to release the latch by moving it on its pivot. I

In the operation of the table from retracted position, the overlying leaf is moved outwardly or toward the left from its position in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6. To limit such movement any suitable stop-means may be provided, as, for example, thin stop boards carried by the guide blocks 6 at the top thereof, as indicated in cross section at 20, and which will be engaged by the opposed leaf frame member 1 when the leaf reaches the extended position of Fig. 5. At this point the underlying leaf may be moved outwardly until the inclined cam surface low of each cam-bar l it strikes the longitudinal frame member I toward which it has been directed.

In such partial extension of the underlying leaf, the outer edges of fixed bars 4 act as guide members for the leaf in addition to their supporting function, inasmuch as the cam bars l6 preferably abut said bars 4.

Continued outward movement of the underlying leaf causes it to rise at its outer portion, the bars 5 and/or frame members 2 acting as a fixed support for the inner portion of the leaf, the appropriate frame member l serving as a fulcrum. The said leaf may thus be moved outwardly to the dotted line position, Fig. 5, at which point shoulder Home of each cam bar will engage said fixed frame member l and stop further outward movement. The leaf may then be moved down to full line position, Fig. 5.. When in such position, a metal foot 2! carried by each cam bar it will lie adjacent to and above the top plane of a metal latching seat 22 carried at the lower surface of the adjacent supporting bar 4. Inward movement of said leaf will carry each foot 2! on to one of the seats 22 and the leaf will thus be held in extended position in the plane of, and abutting, the normally overlying leaf.

In retracting the leaves, the normally underlying leaf is first moved to the full line position, Fig. 4, then tilted to the dotted line position, and then moved inwardly, the cam surface of each bar causing the leaf to descend until the lower surfaces of its longitudinal frame members rest upon bars #5 (and/or members 2), the inward movement being continued until the then underlying leaf reaches the position of Fig. 4. The overlying leaf may then be retracted by a direct backward movement.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and specific arrangements of the elements illustrated in t e drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, being as follows:

I claim;

1. A table comprising a frame and supporting legs therefor, a normally overlying leaf, a guide block carried by the frame and projected upwardly within said normally overlying leaf and abutting depending guide surfaces of the latter whereby said leaf may be bodily moved edge- Wise and in such movement guided by said block, a normally underlying leaf movable upon said frame from below the overlying leaf, a cam bar carried by said underlying leaf and having a shoulder, an inclined cam surface and a section projecting beyond said underlying leaf, a foot carried by said cam bar, and a latching seat carried by said frame normally above the foot, whereby endwise movement of the underlying leaf to extended position will cause tilting and rise of the underlying leaf by engagement of the cam surface of said bar with a member of said frame and subsequent engagement of said shoulder with the frame, reverse tilting of said underlying leaf bringing its foot above said seat, and retraction of the leaf in a horizontal plane bringing the foot over upon the seat.

2. A table comprising a frame and supporting legs therefor, a normally overlying leaf, supporting bars carried by the frame, parallel guide blocks projected upwardly from said bars and within said normally overlying leaf and abutting depending guide surfaces of the latter whereby said leaf may be bodily moved edgewise and in such movement guided by said bars, a normally underlying leaf movable upon said frame from below the overlying leaf, parallel cam bars carried by said underlying leaf and abutting said supporting bars, each cam bar having a shoulder, an inclined cam surface and a section projecting beyond said underlying leaf, whereby endwise movement of the overlying leaf to extended position followed by endwise movement of the underlying leaf will cause tilting and rise of the underlying leaf by engagement of the cam surfaces of said bars with a member of the frame and subsequent engagement of said shoulder with the frame, reverse tilting of said underlying leaf bringing it to the same horizontal plane as the normally overlying leaf, and means for latching the underlying leaf in edge abutment with the overlying leaf.

3. A table comprising a primary frame and supporting legs therefor, a normally overlying leaf comprising a marginal frame and a sheet metal covering therefor, parallel guide bars carried by the primary frame, guide blocks carried by said bars and projected upwardly within said normally overlying leaf and above the lower horizontal plane of the frame and abutting depending guide surfaces carried by said leaf frame whereby said leaf may be bodily moved edgewise and in such movement guided by said blocks, a normally underlying leaf movable upon said primary frame from below the overlying leaf, parallel cam bars carried by said underlying leaf and each formed with 'a' shoulder, an inclined cam surface, and having a section projecting beyond said underlying leaf, the cam bars laterally abutting said guide bars of the primary frame, whereby endwise movement of the overlying leaf to extended position followed by endwise movement of the underlying leaf will bring the cam surfaces of the cam bars into engagement with a member of the primary frame and will cause tilting and rise of the underlying leaf and subsequent engagement of said shoulder with said frame member, reverse tilting of said underlying leaf bringing it to the same plane as the normally overlying leaf, and means for latching the underlying leaf in such elevated position and in edge abutment with the normally overlying leaf.

4. A table comprising a primary frame and supporting legs therefor, a normally overlying leaf comprising a marginal frame and a metal sheet covering, parallel guide bars carried by the primary frame, a guide block carried by each bar and projected upwardly within said normally overlying leaf and closely adjacent the lower face of the metal covering thereof, parallel supplemental frame bars carried by the marginal frame of said normally overlying leaf, each bar abutting one of said guide blocks whereby said leaf may be bodily movededgewise and in such movement guided by the blocks, a normally underlying leaf movable upon said frame from below the overlying leaf I and comprising a marginal leaf frame and a metal covering therefor, parallel cam bars carried by said underlying leaf each having an inclined cam surface, each cam bar being disposed adjacent one of said guide bars, whereby endwise movement of the underlying leaf to extended position will cause tilting and rise of the underlying leaf by engagement of the cam surfaces of said bars with a member of the primary frame, and reverse tilting of said underlying leaf will bring it to the same horizontal plane as the normally overlying leaf, and means acting to latch the normally underlying leaf upon retraction of the leaf to edge abutment with the normally overlying leaf.

JOSEPH COOPER. 

